SC to MP; File reply over lack of med facilities at Bhopal Hosp

New Delhi, Jan 24 (UNI) The Supreme Court today directed the Madhya Pradesh government to file its response to the court appointed monitoring committee on the allegations of shortage of medical facilities in Bhopal Hospital, meant for the victims of Bhopal Gas tragedy.

A bench comprising Justices C K Thakker and Lokeshwar Singh Panta was informed by Mr P S Narasimha, counsel for the petitioner Bhopal Gas Peerit Mahila Udyog Sanghathan, about severe shortage of medicines and medical facilities at the Bhopal Hospital.

Around 3000 people died and thousands seriously injured in December 1984 when poisonous gas leaked from Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) plant in Bhopal.

The court had appointed the monitoring committee on August 17, 2004.

The court also directed the advisory committee to file its report, if any, within six weeks.

The petitioners have also alleged large scale bungling in the funds meant for the hospital.

The hospital had been set up out of the compensation by the UCC and the money raised by selling its shares and assets after its chairman was declared an absconder in a case of criminal negligence by a Bhopal court.

UNI